Smart Grid News

Big data's role in the smart grid

SUBNET Solutions Inc | Monday, October 29, 2012

The proliferation of big data business tactics will present a unique problem for utilities and other power companies, which will have to find ways to deal with untold amounts of unstructured data that must be collected and categorized, GreenTech Media reports.

According to the news source, utilities will no longer be able to use traditional data management systems, which require all data be regimented, compared with new systems that can take grid information "as is." When compounded with the innumerable amount of data that will be generated by intelligent electronic devices, it will present a never-before-seen challenge for utilities as they work to analyze this information.

"That’s an approach ready-made for the heterogeneous and evolving world of smart grid big data, to be sure," wrote smart grid integration expert Jeff St. John. "All those smart meters, distribution automation systems, plug-in vehicle chargers and demand response-enabled homes and businesses send and receive massive amounts of data, using a variety of communications networks to connect with a variety of back-end software systems, which can be managed by utilities themselves or their vendor partners."

SUBNET's products can help utilities gather, analyze and manage this huge amount of data to help them significantly increase operational efficiencies.